Mercenary — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈmər-sə-ˌner-ē/ mer·ce·nary

Meaning & Definition of Mercenary

Mercenary (noun)

  1. one that serves merely for wages; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service

Mercenary (adjective)

  1. serving merely for pay or sordid advantage, venal; also, greedy
  2. hired for service in the army of a foreign country

Mercenary (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions

    "they were a mercenary couple, who defined themselves not by what they were but by what they owned"

    similar: acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping, greedy, moneygrubbing, rapacious
    related: commercialistic, materialistic, philistine, desirous, eager, itchy, lickerish, miserly, hoggish, piggish, piggy, swinish, devouring, gluttonous, gobbling, insatiable, ravenous, unquenchable, voracious, egocentric, egoistic, egotistic, self-centered, self-seeking, discontent, discontented, malcontent, unsatisfied, begrudging, grudging, resentful
    near: nonmaterialistic, altruistic, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, handsome, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, selfless, unselfish, unsparing, controlled, moderate, restrained, temperate, content, sated, satisfied

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Mercenary

The most common words with a similar meaning to Mercenary:

acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping, greedy, moneygrubbing, rapacious

Related Words for Mercenary

commercialistic, materialistic, philistine, desirous, eager, itchy, lickerish, miserly, hoggish, piggish, piggy, swinish, devouring, gluttonous, gobbling, insatiable, ravenous, unquenchable, voracious, egocentric, egoistic, egotistic, self-centered, self-seeking, discontent, discontented, malcontent, unsatisfied, begrudging, grudging

Near Antonyms of Mercenary

nonmaterialistic, altruistic, bounteous, bountiful, charitable, freehanded, generous, greathearted, handsome, liberal, magnanimous, munificent, openhanded, openhearted, selfless, unselfish, unsparing, controlled, moderate, restrained, temperate, content, sated, satisfied

Word Forms of Mercenary

Inflections: mercenaries

Derived words: mercenarily (adverb), mercenariness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Mercenary

Middle English, from Latin mercenarius, irregular from merced-, merces wages mercy

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Mercenary

What does "Mercenary" mean?

"Mercenary" means one that serves merely for wages; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: one that serves merely for wages; especially, a soldier hired into foreign service.

What is another word for "Mercenary"?

Other words for "Mercenary" include acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping and greedy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Mercenary" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Mercenary"?

There are 41 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Mercenary". Common alternatives include acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous, grabby, grasping, greedy, moneygrubbing and rapacious.

How do you use "Mercenary" in a sentence?

Examples of "Mercenary" in a sentence: "they were a mercenary couple, who defined themselves not by what they were but by what they owned".

Is "Mercenary" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Mercenary" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Mercenary"?

"Mercenary" is pronounced /ˈmər-sə-ˌner-ē/ and divided into syllables as mer·ce·nary.

What is the origin of the word "Mercenary"?

"Mercenary" comes from Middle English, from Latin mercenarius, irregular from merced-, merces wages mercy. First known use: 14th century.

What is another word for "Mercenary" meaning "having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions"?

When "Mercenary" (adjective) means having or marked by an eager and often selfish desire especially for material possessions, synonyms include acquisitive, avaricious, avid, coveting, covetous and grabby.